The Birch Bay Watershed and Aquatic Resources Management (BBWARM) District was created in response to community concerns about water quality, flooding, and loss of aquatic habitat in the Birch Bay Watershed. BBWARM’s stormwater program focuses on protecting water quality and reducing stormwater impacts. Explore our website to learn more about what BBWARM is doing and how you can get involved.
UPCOMING MEETINGS
BBWARM Advisory Committee Meeting
The next meeting of the BBWARM Advisory Committee will be held on January 17th at 6pm at the Northwest Annex Portable Building (5280 Northwest Drive, Bellingham, WA 98226). The general public is invited to join us, and a public comment period will be held at the beginning of the meeting. This will be a hybrid meeting with in-person and remote options.
You can view the 2024 meeting schedule, documents, and Zoom link on the BBWARM Advisory Committee website.
NEWS
The BBWARM District service charge has remained unchanged since its inception in 2009. The rates are based on the density of impervious surface area on a property, such as pavement, rooftops, driveways, and parking areas. The average single-family home in Birch Bay has 4,000 square feet of impervious surface and pays $75 annually. Due to the long list of capital improvement projects to be built in Birch Bay and the rising construction costs, it has become clear that a rate study (and likely service charge increase) is warranted.
The BBWARM advisory committee and county staff are initiating a rate study and analysis that will help determine the total amount of rate revenue required to continue to meet BBWARM’s financial obligations, including capital, operating, and policy-driven commitments. The public will be able to provide feedback and comments at public meetings in January and April of 2024. Contact Whatcom County Public Works Stormwater staff with questions at 360-778-6230 or WaterResources@co.whatcom.wa.us.
TERRELL CREEK UPDATE
BBWARM has recently received multiple inquiries about Terrell Creek. The sight and smell of the water may seem like cause for concern; however, the conditions are a natural seasonal occurrence caused by lack of rain in the late summer/early fall. Bacterial and algal growth occur when water levels are low, slow moving, warm and nutrient-rich. There is also a buildup of decaying organic matter like seaweed in Birch Bay and lower Terrell Creek every summer. These natural conditions generate strong sulfur smells, surface films, and unusual colors in the creek. The extent and severity of the smell and murkiness varies annually, and this year has been particularly noticeable. The issues will resolve and the creek will return to its normal look and smell once the fall rains start flushing out the waterways.
We have been responding to citizen reports of unusual sheens, smells, and colors in Terrell Creek over the past few months. Staff have not found any conditions to date that are cause for concern; however, it’s still a good idea to keep kids and pets out of the water until it’s no longer stagnant and stinky.
The conditions described above do not need to be reported; however, there are a few observations that are important to report:
If you see bright blue or green algae coating the surface of the water, it could be a harmful algal bloom and should be reported to the Whatcom County Health Department by emailing EnvironmentalHealth@co.whatcom.wa.us or calling 360-778-6000
If you see dead fish or shellfish carcasses, report them to the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife at https://publicinput.com/X7060
If you see a spill of hazardous material, oil, sewage, or an activity that is causing pollution, it should be reported in one of the following ways:
Click here to report an environmental issue to the Washington State Department of Ecology, call 360-255-4400, or email nwroerts@ecy.wa.gov
Click here to ask a question or report a problem to Whatcom County Public Works, call 360-778-6230 or email WaterResources@co.whatcom.wa.us
For emergencies, call 911
Here are some additional resources and tips:
Organic matter like bacteria can create a natural sheen or surface film that looks like an oil sheen. A simple way to tell the difference is to throw a rock or poke a stick into the film. Natural sheens break up into small fragments. Petroleum sheens will quickly reform and are more likely to have a rainbow color.
Water Sheens Facts (BC Ministry of Environment and Climate Change)
Sulfur-loving bacteria thrive in the summer. These bacteria may be pink or white and smell like sulfur. Decaying seaweed and aquatic vegetation also add to the stink. Learn more about the causes of beach odors:
Saltwater Beach Odors fact sheet (Washington Dept. of Ecology)
What Is That Smell (Birch Bay Water & Sewer District)
Who is monitoring the water quality?
Whatcom County Public Works staff sample the creek and other locations in the watershed twice a month to monitor fecal coliform bacteria levels. The results are posted on this map and on this website at least monthly.
Whatcom County Health & Community Services staff monitor water quality for swimming in Birch Bay between Memorial Day and Labor Day as part of their BEACH program.
Whatcom County Health & Community Services staff regularly monitor for marine biotoxins (poisons produced by certain kinds of microscopic algae) and close shellfish harvesting areas when unsafe levels are detected. Check the Shellfish Safety Map for beach closures and advisories on the day you plan to harvest shellfish.
RECENT EVENTS
BBWARM recently hosted an info session in partnership with Whatcom County Health and Community Services, Western Washington Univeristy, and the Whatcom Conservation District. You can still look at the recording and PowerPoint presentations below if you missed it.
Zoom Recording Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/rec/share/KjtL74W8k_shxetZ0OVc35hEOtrz12iZO2Muj1f5vIvNdo6f0eMTa2gc2gAT6uGt.Hy1cvXPo5OEpeER1
Access Passcode: 9eZT?^+H
Presentation Slides: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1G1M0ZFHrOls_-F8OMY2OM7nvUgpqLeC3/view?usp=sharing
Avoid the water and keep pets and livestock away if you see an algae bloom. You can report algal blooms to the Whatcom County Health and Community Services at (360) 778-6000 or environmentalhealth@co.whatcom.wa.us. Health Department staff will work with you to determine the next steps.
REPORT STORMWATER ISSUES OR POLLUTION
Have you ever seen a stormwater-related issue and didn’t know what to do about it? Whatcom County Public Works has a quick and easy way to report problems. This form is sent directly to Whatcom County staff who can help address the issues.
The link to the form can be found at the top of the Public Works website.
Use the “Flooding and Drainage Problems” category on this form to report signs of stormwater infrastructure issues such as:
Clogged Infrastructure
Flooding
Erosion
Use the “Water Quality - pollution and spills” category on this form to report pollution-related issues like:
Discolored water
Foamy water
Oil sheen